Gregory the Great

3 September -- Lesser Festival -- Teacher of the Faith -- White

Gregory was born in 540, the son of a Roman senator. As a young man he pursued a governmental career, and in 573 was made Prefect of the city of Rome. Following the death of his father, he resigned his office, sold his inheritance, and became a monk. In 579 he was sent by the Pope to Constantinople to be his representative to the Patriarch. He returned to Rome in 586, and was himself elected Pope in 590. At a time of political turmoil, Gregory proved an astute administrator and diplomat, securing peace with the Lombards. He initiated the mission to England, sending Augustine and forty monks from his own monastery to refound the English Church. His writings were pastorally oriented. His spirituality was animated by a dynamic of love and desire for God. Indeed, he is sometimes called the 'Doctor of desire'. For Gregory, desire was a metaphor for the journey into God. As Pope, he styled himself 'Servant of the servants of God' -- a title which typified both his personality and ministry. He died in 604.

Collect

Merciful Father,
who chose your bishop Gregory
to be a servant of the servants of God:
grant that, like him, we may ever long to serve you
by proclaiming your gospel to the nations,
and may ever rejoice to sing your praises;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

A reading from the book Ecclesiasticus.

In all that he did, he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, proclaiming his glory; he sang praise with all his heart, and he loved his Maker. He placed singers before the altar, to make sweet melody with their voices. He gave beauty to the festivals, and arranged their times throughout the year, while they praised God's holy name, and the sanctuary resounded from early morning. The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his power forever; he gave him a covenant of kingship and a glorious throne in Israel.

This is the word of the Lord.         Ecclesiasticus 47. 8-11

Responsorial Psalm

RGive thanks to the Lord, the Holy One;
[proclaim the glory of the Most High].
Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands;
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song. R

Know this: The Lord himself is God;
he himself has made us and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. R

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and call upon his name. R

For the Lord is good;
his mercy is everlasting;
and his faithfulness endures from age to age. R         Psalm 100

A reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians.

Our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.

As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

This is the word of the Lord.         1 Thessalonians 2. 3-8

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.

Jesus called the disciples and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognise as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be servant of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

This is the gospel of Christ.         Mark 10. 42-45

Post Communion

God of truth,
whose Wisdom set her table
and invited us to eat the bread and drink the wine
   of the kingdom:
help us to lay aside all foolishness
and to live and walk in the way of insight,
that we may come with your servant Gregory
   to the eternal feast of heaven;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.